qanat

[ kuh-not ]

noun

1. an underground aqueduct in the Middle East or North Africa through which water flows downhill from an aquifer or well to the surface.

Word History and Origins

Origin of qanat¹

First recorded in 1855–60; from Persian qanāt, from Arabic qanāh “canal”; doublet of canal ( def ), cane ( def ), and channel ¹( def )

Example Sentences

Recognized by the Iranian government as a national living treasure, Nabipour tries to share his craft with younger generations—including one of his sons, who uses a qanat to irrigate his pistachio farm—but fears for the future of this fragile tradition.

From National Geographic

The origins of Turpan’s karez are unclear, though experts note their similarity to the underground qanat, or canals, found in Iran, Iraq and water-starved swaths of Central Asia.

From New York Times

The origins of Turpan’s karez are unclear, though experts note their similarity to the underground qanat, or canals, found in Iran, Iraq and water-starved swaths of Central Asia.

From Seattle Times

The new sites, announced in the Turkish city of Istanbul, include China's Zuojiang Huashan rock art cultural landscape, Iran's ancient aqueducts known as Qanat, and India's archaeological site of Nalanda Mahavihara.

From US News

Iran's Qanat system tapped into alluvial aquifer and transported water underground across vast valleys helping sustain agricultural life and settlements in arid areas.

From US News